Introducing Mr. Gündoğdu
This year, a new biology teacher with great insights and knowledge started his Robert College career: Mr. Gündoğdu. His background involves every kind of social studies that connect to natural life research, science education, and even voice acting. In addition to this, actually, he has a very impressive journey of becoming a biology teacher at Robert College.
Mr. Gündoğdu began his teaching career in 2015, after he graduated from Istanbul University. He was born and raised in Büyükdere, Sarıyer, and he still lives in the same city where he grew up. His connection with the natural and positive sciences started early. This interest eventually led him to pursue a master's degree in ornithology, as he explained the study of birds at Istanbul University's Faculty of Forestry on the Bahçeköy campus.
After graduating, he focused on some studies to specialize in wildlife and forestry engineering. His department was located right next to the entomology department, where researchers focused on insects. As he states, the collaboration between the two fields gave him a wide perspective on ecosystems and how species interact with each other. His curiosity and studies on these subjects made him more interested in understanding human nature and connecting with biology.
After completing his master's degree, Mr. Gündoğdu joined the Canada Schools in Florya, a private school known for combining the Canadian and Turkish curriculum. He spent seven years there as a biology teacher, working in a system that combined two different educational perspectives. As he explains, this made him gain more experience in his field and widened his knowledge.
His arrival at Robert College was the result of a fortunate coincidence. When the school opened applications for a new biology teacher, three of his colleagues from his previous workplace shared the announcement with him on the same day. Seeing it as a sign, he applied and was later accepted into Robert College as a biology teacher.
Since joining Robert College, Mr. Gündoğdu has been teaching four classes: two sections of Biology 1 and two sections of AP Biology. Although he has only been at the school for just over a month, he already feels a strong connection to the campus and its environment. Having spent years studying wildlife, he immediately noticed how suited the RC campus is to his interests. As Mr. Gündoğdu says, the green areas, "Robert" bug, and special ecosystem of Robert College made this school "an ideal place to teach and live."
Beyond his teacher identity, at Robert College, Mr. Gündoğdu is also known for his broad range of interests. Sports have always played an important role in his life. He was a former basketball player during his high school years. In addition to this, he continued playing basketball into university, though he eventually had to stop due to his busy schedule when he started his career as a biology teacher. In his previous school, he often played basketball with students and found it a great way to connect with the students outside the classroom. Swimming is another of his passions, and he never misses a chance to be near the sea during the summer.
Perhaps the most unexpected part of his story is his hobby of voice acting. Like many students, he needed a part-time job during university and started working at a small, amateur dubbing studio in Unkapanı. The work often took place late at night, but it quickly became a hobby for Mr. Gündoğdu. For six months, he worked as a voice actor for local film projects, gaining experience in a creative field that was completely different from biology. Although he describes it as a side interest rather than a professional pursuit, it clearly reflects his willingness to explore new areas.
Balancing such diverse interests is not easy, especially within the busy schedule of a teacher. He admits that he has little time for hobbies at the moment, but hopes to reconnect with them once he starts to get used to his new routine at Robert College.
What stands out most about Mr. Gündoğdu is his deep respect for nature and his enthusiasm for teaching science not as a collection of facts but as a way of understanding the world. His academic background in wildlife studies adds a unique perspective to the classroom. Students in his courses are encouraged to think beyond the textbook, to explore the natural environment around them, and to develop the same sense of curiosity that has guided Mr. Gündoğdu's career.
For Mr. Gündoğdu, teaching is not only about delivering knowledge, but also about inspiring appreciation for life in all its forms. The Robert College campus, with its trees, gardens, and biodiversity, seems to be the perfect setting for that mission.
